Centrifugal separator.



F. W. HORSTMANN. CENTRIFUGAL SEPARATOR. APPLICATIQN FILED MAR-7.1914.

Patented Jan. 8, 1918.

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specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jano &, 19130 Application filed March 7, 1914. Serial No. 823,080.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK W. Honsr MANN, a citizen of. the United States, residing at Kearney, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, have invented new and Centrifugal Separators, of which the following is a specification;

My invention relates to improved centrifugal machines for the separation of liquids and solids employing an improved principle of operation particularly adapted for the separation of the sugar crystals from the masse-cuite in the making of sugar in a continuous process.

In my improved machine the sugar crystals are spread and separated one from another while in the presence of-a melting medium so that they are thoroughly washed and thereafter are retarded and massed to be" under pressure while the liquid is expelled and the crystals whitened by attrition. As a further important feature the liquid discharge opening is arranged at a point of maximum ex elling force and further to promote the discharge of the liquid the walls of the opening are given a relative movement whereby the passage of the liquid is facilitated.

Further features and advantages of my invention will be understood from the following description and by reference to the accompanying drawing wherein the ref,- erence characters of the description are applied to like parts in the several views.

In the drawings is shown a desirable embodiment of the features of'my invention wherein Figure 1 is a substantially vertical, longitudinal, sectional view with certain of the parts shown in elevation. 1F ig. 2 is an end elevation of the same and Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail sectional view of the separating parts.

In the embodiment of my invention here shown A indicates a suitable supporting frame upon which is mounted the standards B-B providing "bearings bb for the revolving parts. The. revolving parts consist of the conical members E-E' forming a two part receptacle to receive the load to be acted upon. These members E E are concentrically arranged, the outer E, having formed integrally therewith abearing sleeve (3 journaled bearing 6 and the inner conical member E' being formed integral with a bearing shaft Cf onrnaled within the sleeve C and in the bearing 6. These conical members E-Eare thus independentl Journaled to be driven-separately at different speeds by the pulleys DD' aflixed respectively to the sleeve 0 and shaft C and of different size so that there will be a difierential movement between the conical receptacle members for the purpose to be described.

As stated the conical members are arranged to form a two part receptacle. For this purpose the outer member E is provided on its outer end with an annular rim member E having an inner surface reversely inclined relative to the internal surface of the inner receptacle member E and complemental thereto-in formingthe receptacle for the material. The interior surface of the receptacle so provided will be seen to have the form of reverse cones or truncated cones having their bases or regions of greatest diameter in juxtaposed relation with a whence it escapes through apertures e by centrifugal force due to the high velocity.

In operation the speed at which the receptacle members are driven is very high but by the arrangement as disclosed there is a slight difi'erence in their rates of speed which produces a slight relative movement between the walls of the discharge opening, the efiect thereof being to maintain the opening clear. The relative movement of the receptacle members is suficiently slight to prevent grinding of-the sugar therebetween. The present intermittent machines for doing this class of work cannot safely be run any faster than now driven without reducing' the load whereas by' the construction here shown it is possible to operate the machine at a greatly increased peripheral'speed thereby increasing the centrifugal effect to drive ofi the liquid and discharge the crystals dry. The product is thus improved in condition as well as in quantity and a smaller machine can be used for operating continuously with a constant discharge of the material, the desired, output may be maintained provided for the discharge of the liquid 'llltl Receiving chambers F and F are provided to receive the discharged Constituents and to conduct the same separately to the discharge openings G and G respectively, The former chamber F and outlet Gr receive the discharged solids or crystals forced from the receptacle into the chamber F by the pressure of the advancing mass in the inner receptacle member E. The latter chamber F received the liquid discharged through the openings e. to separate the two chambers and as shown this wall desirably is arranged forwardly of the rear surface of the rim E the outer periphery of which is inclinedso that the rear surface of the rim is of greater diameter than the opening in the wall so that the liquid is thrown off of the outwardly directed surfaces of the rim within the chamber F thus insuring against escape into the crystal chamber F.

The material here considered, masse-cuite, is introduced into the inner part of the receptacle through a suitably supported feed pipe J provided with a regulating valve and held in a central position at its outlet by a central holder L supported by a standard K. Also supported by the holder L is a wiper comb M having inwardly directed teeth m desirably inclined in the direction of rotation. The function of this wiper is to spread small lumps entering the recepta 'cle and drippings from the feed pipe to prevent them from rolling down the bottom of the receptacle. The effect of the wiper is to press and distribute the lumps or drippings v to the surface of the receptacle thoroughly to mix with the incoming water supply.

The holder L is provided with a central bore and at its inner end is provided with a nozzle N through which a water supply is conducted to the interior of the receptacle. This water supply under suitable pressure is delivered to the innermost part of thereceptacle thoroughly to commingle with the masse-cuite and to carry a melting effect to every part of the in terior, lubricating the surface and preventing drying or clogging which would interrupt the continuity of the operation. The holder L as shown is arranged with its axis co-incident with the axis of the receptacle and is adjustably supported in the standard .K and held by set screw It so that it may be rotated to adjust the position of the delivery pipe J and wiper M.

In operation for the separation of sugar crystals, the well mixed masse-cuite is fed through he feed pipe J; the proper temperature and consistency having been given to it in the usual mixer. It is delivered to the receptacle at the innermost part or small end of the cone, where it instantly takes to the surface under the action of the centrifugal force. Any lumpsor accumulations are smoothed down and uniformly distributed A division wall H is arranged to the surface of the receptacle by the action of thewiper M and the water jet impinging at the end of the receptacle prevents any accumulation of drying sugar which may result from the high velocity. The masse-cuite thinned by the admixture of water, spreads as a film over the surface of the container and passes rapidly outward by reason of the incline. The thinned liquid component or molasses finds ready exit through the fine annular outlet opening and the floating crystals are washed and carried forward with the liquid and by their inertia and by the pressure of the advancing mass are carried beyond the opening and ejected from the receptacle into the receiving chamber. It will be observed that the opening for the discharge of the liquid is arranged at a point of maximum centrifugal force and the walls at each side of the opening are outwardly inclined thereto so that the centrifugal pressure will thoroughly separate the liquid from the crystalsas they are advanced beyond the liquid discharge opening. Furthermore as explained the relative movement given to the walls of the opening greatly facilitates the escape of the liquid by preventing clogging of the opening thereby greatly contributing to the efliciency of the machine.

As the masse-cuite enters the receptacle the crystals therein are all in a close mass the interstices between the crystals being filled with the molasses which has no melting effect upon the crystals which are substantially or in actual contact. In this condition it is subjected to the water jet which immediately changes the molasses to a liquid having a melting effect. Thereafter in the advance of the resulting mixture forwardly to the larger end of the receptacle, as the surface progressively increases, the crystals are spread and separated from one another in the presence of the melting liquid so that they are thoroughly cleansed of the molasses. Moreover, at the point of separation of the liquid from the crystals as they move forwardly to be discharged the crystals are retarded and massed, and, then moving as a mass without any liquid are whitened by attrition until discharged. By the continuous, uniform and rapid operation of my improved machine in the manner described a superior product is produced.

Having described my invention,I claim,

1. A centrifugal machine of the character described comprising a receptacle suitably journaled and having opposed internal conical surfaces reversely inclined with their ends of larger diameter set adjacent and having a liquid discharge opening between the adjacent ends of the conical surfaces, one of said surfaces being comparatively small and having its lesser diameter greater than the lesser diameter of the opposed conical surface whereby the solids maaosr ter described comprising a suitably journaled receptacle formed by juxtaposed receptacle members having opposed internal conical surfaces, said members being concentrically journaled and having their inclined internal surfaces arranged with their ends of larger diameter set adjacent and spaced to leave a minute liquid discharge opening therebetween and one of said members having a discharge opening therethrough for the solids and having its lesser diameter greater than the lesser diameter of the opposed conical surface of the other member whereby the solids will be advanced thereover by pressure from the latter substantially as described.

3. A centrifugal machine of the character described comprising a suitably journaled receptacle formed by juxtaposed receptacle members having opposed internal conical surfaces, said members being concentrically journaled and having their inclined internal surfaces arranged with their ends of larger diameter set adjacent and spaced to leave a minute liquid discharge opening therebetween and one of said members having a discharge opening therethrough for the solids and having its lesser diameter greater than the lesser diameter of the opposed conical surface of the other member whereby the solids will be advanced thereover by pressure from the latter and means to rotate the members in the same direction at different speeds to produce arelative movement of the walls of the liquid discharge opening substantially as described.

4. A centrifugal machine of the character described comprising a suitably journaled receptacle formed by juxtaposed receptacle members having opposed internal conical surfaces, said members being concentrically journaled and having their inclined internal surfaces arranged with their ends of larger diameter set adjacent and spaced to leave a minute liquid discharge opening therebetween and one of said members having a discharge opening therethrough for the solids and having its lesser diameter greater than the lesser diameter of the opposed conical surface of the other member whereby the solids will be advanced thereover by pressure from the latter and means to rotate the members in the same direction at different speeds to produce a relative movement of the walls of the liquid discharge opening, means to deliver the charge within the receptacle and means to deliver a supply of water therewith, sub= stantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to thisspecification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

FREDERICK WILLIAM HOB,S'llllllllllc Witnesses:

JAMES NAYLoR, Jn, I

HEN TZ J. HORSTMANN. 

